Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Change: Picture Book Suggestions and Questions

Many thanks to members of the Australian Teacher Librarian group who helped combine this list of picture books that are about some kind of change. Change can be scary for kids, but luckily books can help prepare us and reassure us. Some change in the books suggested below is in children’s lives; in others the change is environmental. UPDATE: Below you will see a Listly list of picture books about change that I will add to over time.

My first suggestion is a recently-published picture book called Welcome, by Barroux, Hardie Grant Egmont, 2016. RRP: $19.99

From the publisher:

I am a polar bear. I live on an ice floe. I lead a quiet and peaceful life with my friends. But that was before the BIG CRACK. Now we are alone. When Polar Bear and his friends are swept away from their icy home, they hope to find refuge in a new land. But when they are turned away from one new place after another, they start to doubt that they will ever find somewhere they will be made welcome. In this exceptional book, the award-winning Barroux has crafted a powerful story with a twist ending about hugely important and current issues.

Welcome has an environmental message that is not heavy-handed. The words Barroux chose to present the tale are very simple, and his colourful and humorous illustrations will ensure that kids understand the message - some day it may be them who needs to find a new home, just like the polar bears in the story. How would they like to be treated on that day?

Where’s the Elephant by Barroux also has an environmental message. My review.

Window, Belonging (my review), Where the Forest Meets the Sea, all by the wonderful Jeannie Baker.